Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-13
LIKE THE FALL OF TIE MAINE.
The Shower CT Ouaiis for the 3Iormoae d
It's Probable Explanation.
SAT- Lake Special NV York Sll

SAT- Lake special NSW 1OrK ; n. - =
The stories about quail which are
coming from Nevada have suggested
to an old settler here an explanation OF a
phenomenon which bas all along been
cited SIS an evidence Of the favor IN which
TIE MOrmons who made the Journey
across the plains with Brigham We're held
by the Almighty. The Mormon teachers
maintain that the experience Of the faith
full or that weli-kuOHn pilgrimage WAS
more marvellous than anything that Oc-
CURED to the children of Isreel when
they wandered in the wilderness under
the leadership Of Moses. By Christians
it is generally admitted that the
IsraeIites were under the guidance
Of the Lord; that they were fed
from heaven; that water gUshed from the
rocks to satisfy their thirst, and that but
for superhuman assistance they never
would have passed safely into the prom
ised land. Yet the ISraeiites were forty
years in crossing a wilderness not so
extensive and certainly not more
dangerous than The wilderness which
the Mormons crossed IN few
months To all Mormons in this vicinity
the story Of their forefathers' pilgrimage
is as attractive as the Mosaic hegira was
to the ancient Hebrews; it is regarded by
ell of them as more certain Illustration
of Gods favor, and by many Of them the
miracles which are said TO have been per-
formed for the benefit of Brigham's fol-
lowers are looked upon IS more wonder
full than anything that took place in the
days of Moses. The only one of these
supernatural stories to which it is now
necessary TO refer is that which relates
how the Brighamites were fed when
starvation seemed to be staring them in
the face.
"I have investigated thGS story" the
SUMS informant observed, "snd l am
bound to believe that some such incident
actually occurred. You cannot question
the evidence of score Of men and
women who, whatever their peculiarities
may have BEEN were not known as liars.
Their word was good. Some of them
were cot polygamists. According to the
narrative, IS I got 1t, the Mormon cara
van had run out of meat of every descrip
ton, ard though there was some food on
hand, it was seen that unless g more
fruitful country was soon reached ali
must perish of hunger. The wilderness
yielded absolutely nothing. There was
40 game. The water was unfit TO drink.
Hostile Indians sWarmed on all sides of
them, and as day followed day and the
prospect became blaCKer and blacker it
was decided that on & certain day the
caravan should halt and pray to Almighty
God for relief.
"When that day dawned the wagons
and horses were left as they had been
placed the night 9fore, in g circle, and
the pilgrims assembled in the central
space and prayed fervently, both publicly
and in silence, for delIverance. Not q
morsel Of food passed the mouth of any
person, and from what l can learn
more solemn fast and supplicstion never
occurred in this world. For six or seven
hours the services lasted. The sky had
been cloudless during the forenoon, and
in the afternoon only & few white fakes
stood in the broad eXpanse Of blue. Soon
after o'clock breeze sprang up, which |
gradually increased to gale, and little |
while later the watchers, who hailed the |
first change in the atmospheric
conditions as signs of q |
presidential response, saw far away ION |
the horizon what appeared to be a black |
cloud. AS it sew in size ell stood |
it intently until, amid the |
shouts and hallelujahs of the faithful, |
thousands Of quail, borne on the wind |
and dashed with violence against the |
covered wagons, fell exhausted or dead |
to the ground. The air was black with |
them for few minutes, and SO terrifying
was the experience that men and women
tainted or went Wild with |
". After q little such of the
dAck as had escaped the wagons
disappeared, and the men and women
who retained their presence of mind be-
gan gathering the birds which had come
TO them so strangely. While they were
eD gagged in this work, and were rejoicing
over their good fortune it grew suddenly
lark, and before the last Bird had been
picked up rain began 20 fell in
;opious showers. The stock was greatly
and much water was caught in
utensils which were made ready for the
purpose. These strange events had
profound effect upon everybody, strength
,ning the faith OF the wayering and i'm
)uing all with the conviction that they
we're indeed the chosen Of the Lord.
alter day Of thanksgiving, the caravan
moved on, and in short time it came to
ertile valleys and running water, the